Until recently, child marriage in South Korea remained legal for teens as young as 16 with parental consent, making the country an outlier among developed nations. However, that changed when lawmakers amended South Korea’s Civil Act to set the minimum marriage age at 18 with no exceptions. While child marriage affects one in five girls worldwide, the South Korean child marriage ban demonstrates that decisive policy and public awareness can dismantle harmful traditions, safeguard youth and advance the global movement to end child marriage.
From Loophole to Legal Clarity
The revised South Korea’s Civil Act, specifically Article 807, now establishes 18 as the absolute legal marriage age. This change frees minors from the pressure to marry before adulthood. Previously, Article 808 allowed underage marriage with parental consent but lawmakers eliminated that exception to safeguard young people. These reforms challenge traditional values in which parents play a decisive role in early marriage arrangements, causing South Korean parents to consider the concerns that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child raised.
Marriages Beyond Borders: The Loophole Challenge
While South Korea’s child marriage ban closes domestic legal loopholes, a persistent concern remains in marriages arranged beyond its borders. Since the 1990s, international marriage brokers connect South Korean men with women from other countries. Some families exploit cross-border arrangements to wed partners under 18 abroad, and then return to register the marriage in South Korea.
This practice blurs the line between child marriage and human trafficking, pushing the boundaries of the child marriage ban in place. Brokers finalize matchmaking deals typically within nine days, giving minors and adults little time for informed consent.
As of 2007, 40% of Korean men in agriculture, forestry and fishing were married to foreign wives, primarily from China, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines. Migrant brides face obstacles such as language barriers, economic dependency and cultural isolation, which make them vulnerable to abuse.
The Murder That Sparked Reform
A landmark case of abuse involves Thach Thi Hoang Ngoc, a 20-year-old Vietnamese bride, murdered by her mentally ill 46-year-old Korean husband only eight days after arriving in South Korea. The broker of the marriage failed to mention her husband had schizophrenia, causing a public outcry for officials to pay more attention to international marriage regulations.
“The general public in South Korea was shocked and outraged and demanded that the government take more proactive measures to strictly regulate international marriage practices,” Helen Lee wrote in a 2010 Law Library of Congress report.
In 2007, South Korea enacted the Act on Regulation of Marriage Brokerage Agencies which requires brokers to register, follow foreign regulations and provide written agreements between both parties to prove consent. The amended Act in 2010 imposes stricter restrictions and the Cross-Governmental Policy to Promote Wholesome International Marriage, which adds tighter broker rules and mandatory educational seminars for Korean spouses. Officials now conduct rigorous criminal and medical background checks to protect future spouses from dangers identifiable early on.
A Victory for Children’s Rights
South Korea currently holds one the world’s lowest teenage pregnancy rates—about two to three births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19. Even with these low figures, officials remain concerned about any link between the teenage pregnancy rate in South Korea and child marriage.
By enforcing Article 807, the child marriage ban in South Korea protects young people from early parenthood, helps ensure uninterrupted education and limits health risks associated with teenage pregnancy. The reform also advances Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 (SDG 5.3), the global pledge to end child marriage by 2030.
The Cultural Shift
Since the child marriage ban in South Korea, cultural standards surrounding arranged marriage have shifted. Once deeply rooted in Confucian traditions, matchmaking practices adapted to emphasize youth autonomy.
Rights organizations like Girls Not Brides note that child marriage in South Korea has been rare and often undocumented, linked more to gender inequality and trafficking than to mainstream cultural practices.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family celebrated South Korea’s reform as a step toward ensuring equal opportunities for all youth to pursue education, work, and personal growth.
Since lawmakers changed the legislation, cultural and familial approaches to matchmaking have shifted, and South Korea increasingly recognizes that personal choice to marry is paramount in marital decisions involving youth. As a 2022 study notes, “Young adults’ changing values, particularly concerning marriage, are among the key factors that have contributed to this phenomenon.”
Global Role in Ending Child Marriage in South Korea
The South Korean child marriage ban shows that even highly developed countries can harbor outdated laws, and that real change is possible with political will and public support. Local NGOs and South Korean citizens emphasize the need to pair strong legal protections with cultural change, using South Korea as an example of a successful complete ban on child marriage, barring parental consent as a factor entirely.
Nationwide awareness campaigns and school programs aim to promote the value of education, self-determination and self-advocacy in marital decisions. South Korea co-sponsored Human Rights Council initiatives aimed at ending child, early and forced marriage, addressing topics ranging from the consequences of child marriage to its occurrence in humanitarian crises, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For countries struggling with partial bans, South Korea offers a clear blueprint: set a clear minimum age, remove all exceptions and enforce the law consistently while updating legislation regularly.
Looking Ahead
The child marriage ban in South Korea has focused attention on teenage pregnancy, education disruption and youth autonomy. The success of the laws and the government’s ongoing revisions ensure that minors will no longer face the same legal pressure or loss of agency in South Korea again.
South Korea’s journey from conditional allowances to a total ban proves that legal reform and public consensus can protect the formative years of life. It stands as a global role model for the global push to end child marriage and lower the teenage pregnancy rate worldwide.
– Nicole Fernandez
Nicole is based in Reno, NV, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Unsplash
From Loopholes to Legal Clarity: Child Marriage in South Korea
From Loophole to Legal Clarity
The revised South Korea’s Civil Act, specifically Article 807, now establishes 18 as the absolute legal marriage age. This change frees minors from the pressure to marry before adulthood. Previously, Article 808 allowed underage marriage with parental consent but lawmakers eliminated that exception to safeguard young people. These reforms challenge traditional values in which parents play a decisive role in early marriage arrangements, causing South Korean parents to consider the concerns that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child raised.
Marriages Beyond Borders: The Loophole Challenge
While South Korea’s child marriage ban closes domestic legal loopholes, a persistent concern remains in marriages arranged beyond its borders. Since the 1990s, international marriage brokers connect South Korean men with women from other countries. Some families exploit cross-border arrangements to wed partners under 18 abroad, and then return to register the marriage in South Korea.
This practice blurs the line between child marriage and human trafficking, pushing the boundaries of the child marriage ban in place. Brokers finalize matchmaking deals typically within nine days, giving minors and adults little time for informed consent.
As of 2007, 40% of Korean men in agriculture, forestry and fishing were married to foreign wives, primarily from China, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines. Migrant brides face obstacles such as language barriers, economic dependency and cultural isolation, which make them vulnerable to abuse.
The Murder That Sparked Reform
A landmark case of abuse involves Thach Thi Hoang Ngoc, a 20-year-old Vietnamese bride, murdered by her mentally ill 46-year-old Korean husband only eight days after arriving in South Korea. The broker of the marriage failed to mention her husband had schizophrenia, causing a public outcry for officials to pay more attention to international marriage regulations.
“The general public in South Korea was shocked and outraged and demanded that the government take more proactive measures to strictly regulate international marriage practices,” Helen Lee wrote in a 2010 Law Library of Congress report.
In 2007, South Korea enacted the Act on Regulation of Marriage Brokerage Agencies which requires brokers to register, follow foreign regulations and provide written agreements between both parties to prove consent. The amended Act in 2010 imposes stricter restrictions and the Cross-Governmental Policy to Promote Wholesome International Marriage, which adds tighter broker rules and mandatory educational seminars for Korean spouses. Officials now conduct rigorous criminal and medical background checks to protect future spouses from dangers identifiable early on.
A Victory for Children’s Rights
South Korea currently holds one the world’s lowest teenage pregnancy rates—about two to three births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19. Even with these low figures, officials remain concerned about any link between the teenage pregnancy rate in South Korea and child marriage.
By enforcing Article 807, the child marriage ban in South Korea protects young people from early parenthood, helps ensure uninterrupted education and limits health risks associated with teenage pregnancy. The reform also advances Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 (SDG 5.3), the global pledge to end child marriage by 2030.
The Cultural Shift
Since the child marriage ban in South Korea, cultural standards surrounding arranged marriage have shifted. Once deeply rooted in Confucian traditions, matchmaking practices adapted to emphasize youth autonomy.
Rights organizations like Girls Not Brides note that child marriage in South Korea has been rare and often undocumented, linked more to gender inequality and trafficking than to mainstream cultural practices.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family celebrated South Korea’s reform as a step toward ensuring equal opportunities for all youth to pursue education, work, and personal growth.
Since lawmakers changed the legislation, cultural and familial approaches to matchmaking have shifted, and South Korea increasingly recognizes that personal choice to marry is paramount in marital decisions involving youth. As a 2022 study notes, “Young adults’ changing values, particularly concerning marriage, are among the key factors that have contributed to this phenomenon.”
Global Role in Ending Child Marriage in South Korea
The South Korean child marriage ban shows that even highly developed countries can harbor outdated laws, and that real change is possible with political will and public support. Local NGOs and South Korean citizens emphasize the need to pair strong legal protections with cultural change, using South Korea as an example of a successful complete ban on child marriage, barring parental consent as a factor entirely.
Nationwide awareness campaigns and school programs aim to promote the value of education, self-determination and self-advocacy in marital decisions. South Korea co-sponsored Human Rights Council initiatives aimed at ending child, early and forced marriage, addressing topics ranging from the consequences of child marriage to its occurrence in humanitarian crises, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For countries struggling with partial bans, South Korea offers a clear blueprint: set a clear minimum age, remove all exceptions and enforce the law consistently while updating legislation regularly.
Looking Ahead
The child marriage ban in South Korea has focused attention on teenage pregnancy, education disruption and youth autonomy. The success of the laws and the government’s ongoing revisions ensure that minors will no longer face the same legal pressure or loss of agency in South Korea again.
South Korea’s journey from conditional allowances to a total ban proves that legal reform and public consensus can protect the formative years of life. It stands as a global role model for the global push to end child marriage and lower the teenage pregnancy rate worldwide.
– Nicole Fernandez
Photo: Unsplash
World Bank Support: Strengthening Agriculture in Sri Lanka
Agriculture in Sri Lanka
To become a stronger player in the global food trade, Sri Lanka must improve efficiency in handling its top exports: mangoes, cinnamon, coconut and seafood. More robust systems are needed to ensure these products meet international standards and to reduce food loss. The World Bank is investing in Sri Lanka’s National Quality Infrastructure (NQI), a behind-the-scenes system that guarantees exported food is safe, traceable and up to code for global markets. To catch up with some of the higher-grossing nations worldwide, the NQI provides digital systems for tracking products, labs for testing and agencies for certification.
Sri Lanka is one of the most impoverished countries in the world, with less than $5,000 GDP per Capita. However, the World Bank’s investment will strengthen the country’s local industry, expanding economic opportunity and attracting private capital to support long-term growth. “This support from the World Bank Group is an investment in the people of Sri Lanka,” President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, said. “It will help create jobs, support small businesses and open new opportunities across the country. We are committed to ensuring this partnership delivers real change for our communities.”
World Bank Backs Sri Lanka as a Trusted Global Exporter
The $100 million agricultural investment will help farmers and agribusinesses access markets, attract private capital and adopt new technologies. It will benefit more than 38,000 people, including 8,000 agri-food producers and is expected to gain $17 million in private financing. In 2017, agriculture provided a living for 2.1 million Sri Lankan households. It represented more than 26% of the GDP, which is only forecasted to increase with the World Bank’s assistance.
The World Bank’s support for Sri Lanka’s agribusiness aims to strengthen its position as a trustworthy exporter. Plans include reviewing laboratory systems and developing digital tools to improve efficiency. Indeed, these tools will streamline compliance processes for traders, speed up regulatory approvals and make product tracking easier. A strong NQI, a key World Bank focus, establishes clear standards and communicates them to producers and processing facilities, ensuring high-quality food delivery.
Conclusion
Ultimately, strengthening Sri Lanka’s NQI will raise the standard of agricultural exports and improve the quality of food imports, which is crucial for households struggling to afford nutritious meals. Though largely behind the scenes, lab testing, digital tracking and equipment upgrades reshape the country’s agricultural system. Backed by a sizable World Bank investment, these reforms promise to boost profitability in the sector while creating countless jobs, positioning Sri Lanka for a stronger, more resilient economy.
– Gregory Walker
Photo: Flickr
United Nations Pilot Agrifood Initiatives To Combat Famine in Gaza
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is mounting, reaching Phase 5 of famine according to the United Nations’ Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (U.N. IPC). Distrust in aid sites is rising as the Israeli military killed 1,373 Palestinians seeking basic necessities between May 27 and July 31, 2025, alone.
Calls for the blockade to end have led to droves of civilian-led flotillas to end the siege and renew the flow of aid into the region. Aside from this, action taken by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has facilitated the freedom of Gazans to restore their food supply.
Cash-Based Assistance Plan
The FAO has invested in farmers to combat famine in Gaza by monetarily supporting their agricultural practices. The U.N. has successfully supported 200 farmers in the Strip through its pilot initiative. This scalable model can recover some of the population’s food production abilities from the ground.
The FAO covers the costs of the supplies and resources available, many of which are extremely unaffordable due to hyperinflation. By funding farmers to buy costly fertilizers and seeds, agrifood systems can successfully reduce unaffordability by cultivating crops, returning supply to their economy and providing a basis for rebuilding the region.
In addition to the need to enact this model on a larger scale, Palestinians are unable to cultivate land without clearing a significant amount of rubble. As only 4.6% of the land in the Strip was deemed arable by the FAO in March 2025, compared to the 42% usable before 2024, the threat of desertification could severely escalate the issue.
A combination of funding for farmers and funding for removing and disposing of rubble to propagate the land is therefore essential to combating famine in Gaza.
Debris Management Framework
According to an article published by the American Journal of Public Health, bombardment in Gaza has caused environmental degradation and a public health crisis. The debris of fallen buildings has spread asbestos and other contaminants, affecting water, air and soil health. A geospatial assessment from the FAO and United Nations Satellite Center (UNOSAT) maintains that there is little space to “preserve livelihoods” because of the reduction of usable land.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has long guided debris management projects worldwide, providing technical documents to support rapid response during national emergencies. One such document highlights the “UNDP/Gaza rubble removal experience” in 2005, when the agency efficiently established a high-capacity rubble crushing site.
Removing highly contaminated and hazardous materials in accordance with the UNDP framework will help the local people meet environmental standards necessary to prevent toxic soil contamination. In addition to the FAO’s cash-based assistance plan for restoring food production, the UNDP framework can guide the revitalization of soil health to combat famine in Gaza.
Conclusion
The World Bank predicts that Gaza will not recover its gross domestic product (GDP) until 2038 under the current conditions. Simply giving buying power back to Palestinians is not a solution on its own. Ending the blockade now to allow essential supplies, like quality seeds, infrastructure and construction materials, is necessary to restart the agrifood sector and combat famine in Gaza.
– Aliyah Omar
Photo: Pexels
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: Powering a Nation
Building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
In 2011, Ethiopia announced its plans to construct GERD on the Blue Nile. The $4.8 billion dam, funded primarily by the Ethiopian people through government-issued bonds, quickly became much more than just a standard infrastructure project. With a planned power capacity of 5,150 megawatts, GERD promised to lift countless Ethiopians out of darkness and poverty – and into a better future.
Ethiopia is among the world’s poorest countries, with 67.14% of its population classified as multidimensionally poor. It also has one of the largest electricity access deficits. As of 2022, only 55% of Ethiopians had electricity, leaving millions in energy poverty on top of economic hardship. This reality is not only a symptom of widespread poverty but a perpetuator of it.
Without power, two-thirds of Ethiopian children struggle to study after dark. Women and girls spend hours gathering firewood and cooking over open stoves, losing time to pursue education or work. And patients are deprived of lifesaving equipment and treatment. For exactly these reasons, GERD, with its ability to double Ethiopia’s energy output, is a beacon of possibility. It offers a concrete path to power, education and development to a nation long denied all three.
Conflict on the Nile
Miles downstream, however, many fear that the dam guarantees the exact opposite. Egypt, a country that relies on the Nile for approximately 90% of its water needs, sees the prospect of reduced flow as a threat to its very survival. While Ethiopia frames the dam as an existential necessity, Egypt insists it is an existential threat.
These dichotomous perspectives lie at the heart of the Nile dispute, a centuries-old debate over who has the right to own and control the river. Unfortunately, the Nile has often been a source of division instead of unity. Ethiopia, Egypt and the other riparian countries have struggled to find a compromise when it comes to water allocation. Yet the needs of the different parties may not be as incompatible as they appear.
Collaboration Over Conflict
In a study published in Nature, water resources expert Mohammed Basheer of the University of Toronto and his team argue that collaboration could leave the Nile Basin as a whole better off. If managed efficiently, GERD can help Egypt meet its water needs during times of scarcity while generating hydroelectric power for Ethiopia when river flows are strong.
The study’s modeling shows that the GERD can serve to meet the individual needs of different countries, rather than making those needs mutually exclusive. Just as it can generate hydropower to spur economic growth and development in Ethiopia, the dam can also reduce irrigation deficits in Egypt, boosting agriculture and production in other water-dependent industries.
Fostering Unity Through Music
Basheer and his team make a clear case for cooperation, but they are not alone. Though their medium is very different, The Nile Project – a musical and educational initiative – reaches the same conclusion: harmony is key to a prosperous future.
Founded to inspire collaboration, The Nile Project brings together musicians from various riparian countries. The artists blend their languages and cultures, creating a unique sound and reminding audiences both regionally and abroad of the value in working together. By promoting the Nile as a point of connection rather than division, the organization helps build the cultural foundation needed for shared economic benefit.
Building a Shared Future
Resolving conflict and reaching a compromise is often challenging, but by choosing cooperation, Nile Basin countries could see positive results. Expert opinions suggest that GERD is unquestionably crucial to Ethiopia’s development and with the right approach, it could be a key tool in the fight against poverty across the entire region.
– Caroline Clark
Photo: Flickr
Empowering Rural Women in India
Background
SHGs originally focused on “savings and credit groups,” which have since expanded to include health and nutrition-based initiatives, “improving governance and addressing social issues related to gender- and caste-based discrimination,” according to World Development.
One of the programs that has been especially influential for the upliftment of rural women in India has been the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), launched in 2013. This program specifically works towards achieving the SDGs, including “no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, providing quality education and promoting gender equality, all closely linked to the welfare of the most disadvantaged segments of society.”
A 2024 study revealed that greater involvement of tribal women in Self-help groups under the NLRM scheme led to positive impact on their political empowerment in the rural parts of the state of Jharkhand. The literature revealed that community engagement by these women led to increased networking across villages, higher levels of cooperation and the promotion of equality based on shared norms and values.
Credit Outreach Program
A more recent example is the Mega SHG credit outreach program in the city of Madurai, where the Indian Bank handed over a sanction worth Rs. 10 billion to more than 3,000 women SHGs in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Similar efforts were laid out under the program in the city of Bhubaneswar, where the outreach event delivered roughly Rs. 5.10 billion in loans to 9,961 SHGs. The event was organized under the pan-India initiative to extend formal credit access to women in Self-Help Groups.
This initiative marked a major milestone for the Indian Bank, which is credited with introducing the SHG-Bank Linkage Program in India, back in 1989, further aligning under the NRLM umbrella, as emphasized by the Department of Financial Services Secretary M. Nagaraju.
Positive Impacts
A World Development article found that SHGs had an overall positive impact on aggregate measures of women empowerment. This implied greater control over their incomes, over decision-making in the context of credit and greater participation within the community in general. Importantly, the article signified that SHG participation positively impacted the intrahousehold inequality between men and women.
Although these are important advancements for women in the Indian subcontinent, the article also cautions against assuming that women’s empowerment occurred in every realm. Despite the ascent, there are areas where SHG participation has yet to make a dent. For instance, women’s participation in asset and production ownership was still weaker. The article accounted for deep-seated gender norms as the reason, citing these societal norms are harder to change.
The Future
These examples of empowering rural women in India are not just words on paper. They signal a new era of transformation—one where women, especially those from rural communities, no longer suffer from centuries-old norms and economic dependence.
Through strategic implementation of these programs, the Indian government is not only investing in but also sowing the seeds for long-term social change. The journey is far from over, and challenges remain. However, the success of SHGs indicates how the combination of grassroots initiatives with policy support can create real change in society. While the road ahead is long, it lays the foundation for a hopeful future rooted in women’s empowerment, where every woman can live a life of dignity and independence.
– Vasudhaa Shakdher
Photo: Flickr
Updates on SDG 17 in Spain
Positive Updates on SDG 17 in Spain
As countries have considered how to sustain such large-scale endeavors as no poverty and zero hunger, some have come to view localization of the SDGs as necessary for their impact to reach its fullest potential. Some of the strongest partnerships for achieving these goals are evident in Spain’s network of more than 600 local entities and stakeholders, all working on a community basis to achieve the goals on a national scale.
UIC, for example, a Barcelona university, holds an annual SDG conference inviting students to present research-based solutions aligned with the goals. UIC scored a win for SDG 17 with the creation of an Observatory for Sustainable Recovery in Catalonia, which, in December 2024, released a bioethics code for public authorities based on new research.
In 2024, Spain became the first country to undergo three Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) in compliance with the UN, which indicate milestones in progress towards the 2030 Agenda and provide a guideline for other countries to reference when implementing the SDGs.
Spain has approved another Master Plan since its first one, as of July 2024, with a focus on foreign aid and cooperation. “We are one of the most serious governments in the world in rolling out the 2030 Agenda,” says Second Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Work and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz.
Legal Framework Plays a Central Role in SDG Initiatives
Spain’s 2024-2027 Action Plan traces back to previous policies, such as Law 1/2023 on Sustainable Development and Global Solidarity, that have laid the groundwork for the government’s contributions to Agenda 2030. “This new Master Plan is not a mere continuation of previous Plans,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares Bueno. “It…[ensures] that, through our cooperation actions, we are able to tackle the major global crises facing today’s world…”
Law 1/2023 revolves around social, ecological and economic policy. The law affirms Spain’s compliance with the 2016 Paris Agreement, encourages alignment with the EU and legislates 0.7% as the portion of the country’s gross domestic product allotted towards foreign aid (Spain’s current allocation is 0.25% of its GDP for this purpose).
This is a significant step towards realizing Agenda 2030 on a global scale because currently, only four countries are achieving this figure. An important goal set by Spain’s new Action Plan is the assignment of 10% of its Official Development Assistance to humanitarian efforts. In 2024, the country’s ODA funding was worth $4.4 billion in 2024.
Spanish Partnerships are Paving the Way to 2030
In the past, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID)’s partnerships with other European, African and Latin American governments have funded efforts related to promoting employment, education and humanitarian aid. AECID’s partnership with THAMM, a program launched in Egypt, held workshops in December 2022 through February 2023 for 96 participants to address employment instability and poverty as a root cause of irregular migration. Irregular migration occurs when emigrants leave their country without using the existing, proper legal framework. Disparities in training and access to steady employment, which impact marginalized women, children and the disabled, can cause emigrants to use less secure migration routes that can expose them to risk of human trafficking. In January 2023, Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno traveled to several countries within West Africa and the Sahel to address recent and irregular migration from these priority regions to Spain.
Spain’s August 2024 Strategy for Africa is a product of cooperation between Spanish and African governments, businesses and organizations and will include five overarching objectives and 100 courses of action to achieve them. The Strategy involves partnerships with Niger, Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau that will benefit impoverished groups in these regions.
Who Benefits?
During the minister’s time in Guinea-Bissau, he visited the Simao Mendes National Hospital, where AECID is currently funding two projects. CIDEAL, a partner of AECID, has launched eight projects in Guinea-Bissau that provide training to vulnerable youth and support women in agriculture.
Similarly, Spain recently designated €180 million in funding to promote employment opportunities for Senegalese youth, and funded the 2024 Tierra Forme initiative to professionally train 500 young people.
Currently, Senegal is a top origin country of irregular migration to Spain, and efforts like Tierra Forme reduce the need for workers to look abroad for reliable wages. AECID’s partnerships with West Africa and the Sahel foster entrepreneurship, making vulnerable groups more resilient to disruptive life events that can cause poverty.
Strong Institutions for SDG 17 Spell Out Future Success
In summary, these recent updates on SDG 17 in Spain show how local initiatives to unify for the 17 SDGs are translating to long-standing, global solutions. While there’s much progress to be made in terms of being on track to achieve the goals by 2030, Spain’s commitment to social, ecological and economic policy for its local communities and foreign partners sheds light on a productive diplomacy that other countries can replicate.
– Isla Hansen
Photo: Flickr
Exploring the Gender Wage Gap in Eritrea
Societal Norms and Gender Roles
Eritrea is a patriarchal society where people see women as inferior to men. Men generally make the decisions in the household, while women handle the domestic affairs. Women who work in Eritrea generally work in agriculture, retail and services (i.e. domestic, informal employment, etc.), which tend to have lower wages. Due to this, women and girls in Eritrea are more vulnerable to falling into poverty.
The World Bank indicates the labor force participation is 72.3% female and 84.3% male. Of those, 83.6% of the females have “vulnerable employment,” in contrast to 65% of men. Vulnerable employment is a type of employment that is “least likely to have formal work arrangements, societal protection and safety nets to guard against economic shocks.” Individuals who have vulnerable employment are more likely to fall into poverty.
Women’s participation in decision making in public and private sectors is relatively limited. Women occupy 22% of the seats in Eritrea’s 150-member parliament. This is lower than the average rate in other low-income economies.
Educational Attainment
Access to education is key in closing the gender wage gap in Eritrea. Illiteracy and unemployment rates had been significant among the women of Eritrea. The number of girls attending school is lower than that of boys. The World Bank has reported that 48.2% of girls and 50.4% of boys complete lower secondary school in Eritrea. BTI reports that many girls drop out to avoid sexual harassment.
Solutions
Eritrea’s government has policies and mechanisms in place to support gender equality, including wages. Eritrea touts several policies enacted that speak of gender equality and equal rights for women. Eritrea’s National Democratic Program, which laid the groundwork for the government upon achieving independence, was enacted in 1977. Part of its framework “assures women full rights of equality with men in politics, economy and social life as well as equal pay for equal work.”
In the area of education, Eritrea has made strides. Eritrea’s Ministry of Information touts its National Education Policy’s pledge to “eliminate gender disparity at all levels of the education system.” This policy was enacted in 2003. The Ministry of Information further indicates that women’s enrollment in primary, secondary, vocational schools and colleges has been rising. Of the nearly 15,000 students who took the Eritrean Secondary Certificate Examination in 2023, 49% of the students were female.
The percentage of girls that complete lower secondary school in Eritrea is higher on average than that of the Sub-Saharan region as a whole.
Efforts have also been made to address the disparity in women’s participation in decision-making roles. According to the United Nations Development Programs (UNDP), Eritrea implemented special instruments to ensure that women are included in the decision making. Specifically, there is a requirement of 30% of participation in decision making on national, regional and local assemblies as well as community courts, sports federations, and land committees.
– Danielle Milano
Photo: Unsplash
Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Argentina
IDB Group Financial Support Package
Last month, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) outlined a three-year strategy to support the transformation of Argentina. This plan, developed with the government, focuses on implementing reforms to ‘promote sustainability and efficient public spending.’ As part of this strategy, the IDB Group allocated $10 billion to grow Argentina’s economy and reduce poverty faced by the country. Both the private and public sectors will receive this financial support package. About $3 billion will be focused on private investment, with the remaining $7 billion focused on initiatives in the public sector. Furthermore, the plan also focuses on addressing poverty directly by ensuring the health care and education systems are improved, as well as living conditions for the most vulnerable populations.
Early Childhood Strategy
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted Argentina’s poor early childhood care system and existing inequality, as 2.7 million children are part of a vulnerable group. In response to this, the UN’s early childhood and sustainable development programme worked with the Argentine government to address this ‘care crisis.’ This strategy focuses on improving the childcare system across the country and has trained almost 3,000 workers on the effects of COVID-19 and social isolation on children. These improvements have worked to narrow the inequality gaps between children and are integral innovations in eradicating poverty in Argentina.
Income Transfer Programmes
Income Transfer Programmes have been a key method in alleviating poverty. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government expanded cash transfers to 9 million workers, subsidizing the income of the most vulnerable in Argentina. However, while Income Transfer Programmes are not a new method of eradicating poverty as one that has been in place for 20 years, recent developments have increased their impact. For example, the Universal Child Allowance, since it became the most prominent programme, led to a 3% decrease in Argentina’s overall poverty and a nearly 30% decrease in extreme poverty.
Looking Forward
While the innovations in poverty eradication in Argentina outlined here have been crucial in lowering poverty rates and will continue to be, the fight to truly eliminate poverty in the country is far from over. The complex and structural issues leading to Argentina’s high poverty rate persist. However, the various innovations in poverty reduction outlined here represent a holistic approach to tackling Argentina’s issues and, therefore, offer hope for eradicating poverty in the country.
– Victoria Adrados
Photo: Flickr
Collapsed Food Systems in Sudan: How 80 Cents Can Help
Inside the Crumbling Food Systems in Sudan
The food systems in Sudan heavily rely on local agricultural production, with two-thirds of the population relying on self-sufficient farming. Destruction of agricultural infrastructure and the forced displacement of individuals have halted the population’s ability to plant and harvest, often fleeing to food deserts to escape the violence of civil war. In 2024, reports indicated that many farmers were consuming the grain they would typically use to sow their land to alleviate starvation. The stark economic decline and government-enforced trade restrictions with neighboring countries have further increased food scarcity, driving up the price of food and limiting access.
More than 8.1 million Sudanese are currently facing emergency levels of famine on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classifications (IPC), meaning households are experiencing large food consumption gaps reflected in higher mortality and acute malnutrition. Cholera cases have also skyrocketed due to a lack of access to clean, safe drinking water. Officials have recorded an estimated 32,000 cases of the illness since the beginning of the year. UNICEF has determined these findings alarming as they come during harvest season, when malnutrition is traditionally at its lowest. Children are the most at risk of health complications from acute malnutrition and cholera, as many have lost their parents or guardians. IPC has warned that authorities must take action now, as observers expect the crisis to deteriorate further due to the rainy season from July to September, which causes hindrances to travel.
Dangerous Humanitarian Conditions
Since the beginning of the conflict, man-made blockades, logistical challenges, lack of security in high-conflict areas and restricted access have disrupted vital humanitarian access. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Program (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) urge a ceasefire in the region and urge world leaders to scale up their spending on humanitarian operations. The cease-fire would allow humanitarian workers to safely reach the five regions currently experiencing famine, and hopefully deter this with an impending threat of spreading to an additional 17 regions in Sudan. The WFP is currently supporting more than 6.5 million Sudanese suffering from food insecurity; however, its operations require an estimated $642 USD to continue until November 2025.
ShareTheMeal, A Smartphone App Fighting Hunger
In 2015, WFP staffers Sebastian Stricker and Bernhard Kowatsch founded ShareTheMeal to make fighting hunger accessible to everyone. The application enables users to crowdfund as little as a donation of $0.80 USD to share a meal, made in their respective currencies and languages, to support WFP’s various humanitarian aid operations. In 2020, ShareTheMeal gained global recognition when it won Google’s App for Good award and Apple’s Making a Difference category. Currently, people have shared more than 250 million meals and contributed to 126 WFP operations. The UN’s micro-donation app is presently spearheading a Sudan initiative to help families fleeing the conflict. Since the conflict escalation in 2023, donations have already reached 98% of the 5 million meals shared goal. These meals are nutritionally focused, featuring rice, flour, vegetable oil, lentils, beans and salt.
Looking Ahead
Despite recent improvements in Sudan, the escalation of violence, the rainy season and the pullback on foreign aid, due to other crises like the famine in Palestine, have created harsher conditions in the third year of this civil war. Humanitarian organizations urge that the quiet famine will continue without the bolstering and continual funding of aid programs, which aim not only to reverse the widespread malnutrition but also to rebuild the inner food systems in Sudan, creating sustainable change.
– Elsa van Blokland
Photo: Flickr
Social Remittances to Ukraine: Exchanging Ideas Across Borders
Remittances, sums of money sent to another place, are often a way for migrants to continue relationships while abroad, a method for supporting their communities from a distance. Beyond financial remittances, some Ukrainian refugees have found another way to support their nation, planning to bring social remittances to Ukraine home with them. These ideas, skills and values can strengthen democratic institutions and create economic opportunity.
Poverty in Ukraine & Financial Remittances
According to the Economic Commission for Europe, poverty rates in Ukraine decreased by an estimated 30.5% from 2016-2021. In 2021, the estimated rate of people below the Ukrainian subsistence minimum (the minimum income required to cover basic living expenses) was 20.6%. Since the Russian invasion in 2022, the poverty rate has been on the rise. While there is a lack of data for 2022, the following year’s (2023) poverty rate in Ukraine was 35.5%, having increased 14.9% in just two years.
The Ukrainian National News reports that in 2024, remittances to Ukraine reached $9.6 billion. The report shares that, according to the National Bank of Ukraine, the top sources for these funds were the U.S., Israel and Germany.
Refugee Relocation
The Council on Foreign Relations estimates that since the Russian invasion, 2.9 million Ukrainians have fled to the Eastern border, entering Russia. Another 1.6 million refugees escaped to Poland, where they joined the 1.3 million Ukrainians that already migrated there. The remaining refugees headed to the Czech Republic, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and other European nations.
Social/Intangible Remittances
As Silke Meyer, a professor of European Ethnology at the University of Innsbruck, shared, remittances can extend beyond financial support. Migrants may also send back social capital, networks, knowledge and community norms.
Sociologist P. Levitt describes these as “social remittances,” ways of thinking and living that migrants transfer back to their home. Later research by Grabowska, professor of Social Sciences and Economics at Kozminski University, explains that the concept expanded into “intangible remittances,” encompassing professional and educational practices, attitudes towards mental health, disability, gender roles and political participation. Such exchanges are quietly political and can lay the groundwork for reducing poverty.
The Ukrainian context stands apart because the Russian invasion has forced millions to flee. In this setting, intangible remittances often “emerge[d] as urgent responses to national crisis, moral obligation, or collective recovery,” according to Grabowska. For the women in her study, displacement deepened their attachment to Ukraine. Their intent to bring home what they have learned reflects a will to see Ukraine become stronger, self-reliant and economically resilient.
Migrant Focus on Ukraine
One study participant noted that a work culture fostering development “is something that could benefit [the Ukrainian] workforce back home.” Another expressed a wish to see the hands-on learning and critical thinking she encountered abroad implemented in Ukrainian schools. Others spoke of professional flexibility, cross-cultural respect and greater inclusion for people with disabilities, values that also support long-term poverty reduction.
Grabowska’s work also explores the cumulative advantage effect, a theory explaining how people with more initial resources – money, education or recognition – tend to expand those advantages more quickly. Ukrainian refugees with these resources were better positioned to gather skills and networks abroad, which they then return as powerful remittances to Ukraine.
Unique Predictors
Beyond material resources, “higher civic engagement attitudes and autonomous reflexivity” were strong predictors of which refugees would benefit most from the cumulative advantage effect. War migrants who had a history of community activism and independent decision-making were “more than twice as likely” to gain advantages that could be sent back home. This points to social remittances as not just cultural or personal contributions, but explicitly civic and political, with the potential to influence economic growth and help address poverty in post-war Ukraine.
Future Remittances
The invasion forced Ukrainians into survival-based emigration, but it also created space to imagine a different future for the country. Some refugees plan to return permanently; others foresee a transnational lifestyle or contribution from afar. The only constants throughout the female war migrants’ interviews is their “emotional and symbolic ties to Ukraine” and “desire to contribute to its recovery.” Such commitments to restore and strengthen democratic, inclusive and resilient institutions are inherently political acts of resistance to attempts of domination and can lay the groundwork for reducing poverty by creating more equitable opportunities for all Ukrainians.
Benefits of Remittances
Ukraine is not the sole beneficiary of these contributions. The refugees see themselves as global citizens, fostering cooperation between Ukraine and their countries of residence. In sending back social remittances to Ukraine, they not only help their nation resist aggression but also share ideas that can strengthen anti-poverty efforts both locally and globally.
Whether through peacebuilding, civic participation or inclusive social practices, Ukrainian refugees are shaping conversations about the kind of world they, and their homeland, want to live in, one where the roots of poverty are addressed alongside the wounds of war.
– Alyse Rhee
Photo: Flickr